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Added 9 October 2026

suspect

/səˈspɛkt/ noun

In Latin: suspiciō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about suspect at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Someone who is under suspicion.
A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused.

verb

Imagine to be the case or true or probable.
I suspect he is a fugitive
Regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in.
Hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty.
The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks

adjective

Not as expected.
there was something fishy about the accident

Origin

From Old French suspect, from Latin suspectus, perfect passive participle of suspiciō (“mistrust, suspect”), from sub (“under”), + speciō (“watch, look at”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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